Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1887-01-13

into the dream that her boy had In him
something great In this light she had
very much at heart the long-carricd
Idea that her son should be an artist
which, taken together with thcirwealth,
might lift and float them in tho end
among the social peaks. To this end she
carly directed his attention 10 the
brush. forgetting, OF not knowing,
that he or she, who from dearth of in.
clination turns not 20 art as child
unto its mothers milk, had best mol
touch IT, Joel characterized this pro-
ceeding as a moss of nonsense. though
while the boy remained at school he
submitted with an occasional "Poohr'
that blew the subject from him.
John Earling continued very fond OF
his old-time comradc, albeit his friend
had slight moral flabbincss that dis
pleased him, but his kindness and care.
! less good humor was very taking and
his friends were many. Ever and anon
he dropped in at the store leaving a
smile, A shake Of the hand, and book
with John Earling. "Cappy," he would
say, with a laugh, throwing his arm
across the Others neck, "hcre's book;
read her and tell me about itr' And
again; "Cappy, you're a brave one. My
digestion's poor, you know; keep this
book for mo until I'm of age" aud
other like pieces Of lazy good-naturc.
John Earling, however, with all his
liking for him, assailcd him savagcly
by times for his lack Of earnostncss.
"You're worthless he would say.
"Why don't you study?" But his blue
eyed friend would only laugh aud look
at him reproachfully. John" he
would say, ''you forget my poor diges-
tionr' and there it would end. Many
things displeased John Earling in the
commercial workings Of the place; but
he was good at holding his tongue, and
two years elapsed without a jar Tho
ways of Joel were many and curious,
but as he intimated. they were "busi-
ness" and went unqucstioned. Many
were the prices made, and little snarcs
and baits and bargains laid for the
verdant and unwary. That which did
not come easily to hand must need le
hooked with line quite long enough
to land IL. Not that much there perpe-
trated was in the common sense dis
honest, for trade in these accelerated
days is of startling width, If not in
deed at some points Of appalling lati-
tude, but Jocl's employees were tacitly
instructed that shrewdness was always
requisite. and the successful netting Of
the spoil the prime consideration.
Much of this to Earrings scrupulous
spirit was quite revolving; seemingly
not because he was simple, for he was
strong hater of many things, but
mainly for the reason that nature had
filled him with instructive incinations
to be just. lie could not by indirection
take advantage In the least without
forgetting his own gain by seeing that
the other was deceived. Hence
his business mode collided oft
with Joel's law, and would
have gotten him trouble and expulsion
in the end had not his fine sincerity and
fairness had its way with all. Joel
watched him narrowly at first, and oc-
casionally would throw n sort of pro-
test in his way. But" he would
say, you're too fair. You'll break me
upT' But John Earling smiled and
kept his counsel and continued honest
IN his ways. Then Joel fell to iigur-
ing covertly the profits on each sales
man day by day as indicated by their
sales. and ended by throwing his
figures from him with growl He
couldn't do it il he wasn't so Internal
smartr' was what he said. and after
that was silent. But John Earling
was far from being satisfied; he felt
these conditions chafe him something
like chain. and fain would have freed
himself but that the iron bond of duty
stuck him to his task religiouslY.--ifc
broodcd over this enigma, and its
perpleXing shapes---Gnd shadows,
again ->Ind yet again. 1t
saencd TO him that the whole
field Of life was tainted; that this state
called civilization, so paradcd and re-
vcred. was filed with greedy tendencies
and vile demands. Through his whole
life the flaws within himscl and the
little wrongs and shams and spots
among the spirits OF his fellows,
seemed clear and vivid 90 him. Not
that evil as commonly set down APP
pealcd much TO him, for neither by cx-
ample nor by precept had he been much
wrought upon, but mainly for the rea-
son that his moral lens was large, his
sense of justice delicate and keen, and
that nature in a happy mood had fash
Toned him less pcccable than some.
Thus it fell out that well upon the
close Of John Earnings second year OF
service, certain salesman being ap-
pretended in a theft that, unluckily for
him, was of the wiley Joel in the pub
lies stead, John Earling went into his
Office white with rage.
''four system of business, he said.
with clinched fists, "WOuld make an
angel thief How do you expect a
man to be honest with ycu when you
insist that he shall be dishonest with
other men3 Is it honor among thieves
that you rely on to protect yourself?
It's an outrage! It's an outraged!
Joel wheeled around in his chair with
n deal of color in his face; a strange
heat seemed TO sweep over the still
boOk-koeper, for he ceased writing and
A perspiratiOn broke out upon his
brow. John Earnings eyes blazcd
against JoePs; IL was--tO some people
an uncomfortable trait-.John Earling's
habit to look straight into the eyes OF
those with whom he had TO do. and he
had never been known 10 pluck any
one aside to whisper 10 them, for the
doubtless, that he never seemed
10 have any secrets. or TO be conscious
Of any reason why he should not look
directly at people and say very audibly
what he had TO say.
"Why. you young roosterr blurted
Joel. 'what's the matter with yOu?"
''The matter is not with me, sir; the
matter lies with this young man who
came In here an honest boy and has
gone out thiefr' cried John Earling. in
his passion. II seemed 10 him a more
exquisite injustice was never pcrpe.
trated. He fairly suffered with the
wrong and disgrace that had fallen on
his fellow salesman.
"What have got TO do with his be-
Ing thief?' snOr,ed Joel.